theSITREP Podcast

VA Disability - with Mike Figlioli, VFW Director of National Veterans Services

In this episode, the SITREP asks Mike Figlioli, VFW Director of National Veterans Services, about VA disability: what is it, how to apply, and more.  To connect with the SITREP: - Email us ideas at theSITREP@va.gov - For video podcasts, visit https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thesitrep [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thesitrep] - Sign up for theSITREP eNewsletter at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVA/subscriber/new?topic_id=USVA_485 [https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVA/subscriber/new?topic_id=USVA_485] For additional information, on this topic, visit: https://www.va.gov/disability/ [https://www.va.gov/disability/] For VFW assistance, visit: https://www.vfw.org/ [https://www.vfw.org/] or https://pactactinfo.org/ [https://pactactinfo.org/] To call for VFW assistance, dial: 816-756-3390 for Kansas City, VFW HQ or 202-543-2239 for Mike Figlioli's office in DC To find an accredited VSO or attorney, visit: https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp [https://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp] For NASDVA, visit: https://nasdva.us/ [https://nasdva.us/] For NACVSO, visit: https://www.nacvso.org/ [https://www.nacvso.org/] 00:00 Introduction 00:37 What is VA disability? 00:58 What is the process for applying? 02:06 Does applying cost money? 03:05 When to get help from VSO or attorney? 04:37 Does a Veteran have to be a Combat Veteran for benefits? 05:44 Is VA disability tax free? 06:07 How can VA disability money be used? 06:46 What does service-connection mean? 07:25 What does presumptive condition mean? 08:44 What is Intent to File? 10:56 Can multiple claims be submitted in the same time period? 13:19 What is a VA disability appeal? 15:09 How does VA approve or deny claims? 18:12 Missing evidence for a claim 19:43 Does VA disability pass on to a spouse or family member? 20:38 What is a NEXUS letter? 21:35 Can a Veteran reapply for VA disability, even after denial? 24:31 Advice regarding Statement to Support [buddy statement] 25:57 What is the 5 year rule? 26:25 What is the 20 year rule? 27:25 Three tips for applying for VA disability 30:28 Three tips for finding a good VSO 32:47 Three common mistakes when submitting a claim 34:57 What services do VFW Veteran Service Officers provide? 37:14 Does a Veteran need to be in VFW to get help from VFW? 38:12 How to connect with a VFW Veteran Service Officer? 39:36 Closing

Thrift Savings Plan - with Mike Jerue

In this episode of theSITREP, Paul covers basic questions on what the Thrift Savings Plan is, when TSP started, and why military members and government employees may want to take advantage of TSP.  Paul is joined by U.S. Air Force Veteran, Mike Jerue, who serves as the Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Thrift Savings Plan. FIVE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH theSITREP (1) To sign-up for theSITREP email newsletter, visit:  https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVA/subscriber/new?topic_id=USVA_485 [https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVA/subscriber/new?topic_id=USVA_485] (2) To find theSITREP’s full video library, visit: https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thesitrep [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thesitrep]  (3) To listen to theSITREP audio podcasts, visit:  https://feeds.transistor.fm/thesitrep [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazJwQlBrcDVwbEhiODJBTzd2RlpaeXU5c09nQXxBQ3Jtc0tueXNJV3B0bEV1WENxT1I1UWR3VXI2bWp5U0g5eV9jdVg4T2o1S1JuRjZteVF2T1BKSzVOVE5qcjlRSzJVbEI0MThxSmc1YlItRU9IZlo1VlAwV0x2ZnF0THlNd0RzYzFtTS1YMk5CZVBGNTJWQ3N3SQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.transistor.fm%2Fthesitrep&v=DioJLChaWM8] (4) Search “theSITREP” on your preferred search engine (5) Email us ideas, for a future episode, at:  theSITREP@va.gov ADDITIONAL THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN VIDEOS What is Thrift Savings Plan https://youtu.be/FCH-yBjnj54 [https://youtu.be/FCH-yBjnj54] Pension vs. Thrift Savings Plan https://youtu.be/y7XpH-LiuQk [https://youtu.be/y7XpH-LiuQk] Contributions with Thrift Savings Plan https://youtu.be/TJL92sHspSI [https://youtu.be/TJL92sHspSI] Thrift Savings Plan After Government Service https://youtu.be/POvseD-uzQI [https://youtu.be/POvseD-uzQI] How to Set-Up Your Thrift Savings Plan https://youtu.be/D7ZnjN8QalA [https://youtu.be/D7ZnjN8QalA] IRA & Thrift Savings Plan Contributions https://youtu.be/tH1_K_1a30Y [https://youtu.be/tH1_K_1a30Y] Thrift Savings Plan Beneficiaries https://youtu.be/6i3edMV-NYw [https://youtu.be/6i3edMV-NYw] Thrift Savings Plan Contributions After Service https://youtu.be/pnvXW8VUzok [https://youtu.be/pnvXW8VUzok] Roth vs. Traditional Thrift Savings Plan https://youtu.be/CUrsC_PUgc4 [https://youtu.be/CUrsC_PUgc4] IRA vs. Thrift Savings Plan https://youtu.be/yujVYgpMwLg [https://youtu.be/yujVYgpMwLg] 403b vs. Thrift Savings Plan https://youtu.be/mzBbKrZdqRI [https://youtu.be/mzBbKrZdqRI] Thrift Savings Plan Rollovers https://youtu.be/HM0UBWoAw6E [https://youtu.be/HM0UBWoAw6E] Are TSP Contributions Tax Deductible https://youtu.be/G34PTubDYVU [https://youtu.be/G34PTubDYVU] 401k, 457 & 403b vs. Thrift Savings Plan https://youtu.be/O0UBVWJBTLc [https://youtu.be/O0UBVWJBTLc] TSP Maximum Contributions https://youtu.be/-8HBISieQkE [https://youtu.be/-8HBISieQkE] Individual Funds (G, F, C, S, I Fund) & TSP https://youtu.be/7YfTihsggS4 [https://youtu.be/7YfTihsggS4] TSP L Funds https://youtu.be/_PikOiwxk_4 [https://youtu.be/_PikOiwxk_4] TSP Retirement Calculators https://youtu.be/mLofyfzBJk0 [https://youtu.be/mLofyfzBJk0] Roth vs. Traditional Withdrawals https://youtu.be/YELQiz7f1OM [https://youtu.be/YELQiz7f1OM] How to Change TSP Contribution Amounts https://youtu.be/s1rVVs5PFuc [https://youtu.be/s1rVVs5PFuc] Thrift Savings Plan Loans & Withdrawals https://youtu.be/bxMLFWMC9jg [https://youtu.be/bxMLFWMC9jg] Age to Withdraw TSP https://youtu.be/dkIn3jtqV-k [https://youtu.be/dkIn3jtqV-k] Thrift Savings Plan Vesting Period https://youtu.be/5oJdlFhz0Ig [https://youtu.be/5oJdlFhz0Ig] (RMDs) Required Minimum Distribution & TSP https://youtu.be/tfKJ31aYFfw [https://youtu.be/tfKJ31aYFfw] TSP After DoD Service https://youtu.be/F88hYzVkFdA [https://youtu.be/F88hYzVkFdA] TSP Company Holdings https://youtu.be/r1-h-Qpcn2g [https://youtu.be/r1-h-Qpcn2g] Thrift Savings Plan DoD Rollover https://youtu.be/FwR6bn6j7ks [https://youtu.be/FwR6bn6j7ks] How to Access Thrift Savings Plan https://youtu.be/UyGUV5U2oOE [https://youtu.be/UyGUV5U2oOE] Retroactive Contributions to TSP https://youtu.be/DBrisaPJ-Pc [https://youtu.be/DBrisaPJ-Pc] Catch-Up Contributions with TSP https://youtu.be/-t_oOHVTVWQ [https://youtu.be/-t_oOHVTVWQ] Changing Contributions with TSP https://youtu.be/6HL9e1iUg20 [https://youtu.be/6HL9e1iUg20] Thrift Savings Plan Mutual Funds https://youtu.be/FcLNB16-05I [https://youtu.be/FcLNB16-05I] ADDITIONAL THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN LINKS For TSP overview, visit: https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspbk08.pdf?TSP-BK-08 [https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspbk08.pdf?TSP-BK-08]  For TSP contributions, visit: https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspfs07.pdf?TSP-FS-07 [https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspfs07.pdf?TSP-FS-07]  For TSP L Funds, visit: https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tsplf14.pdf?TSP-LF-14 [https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tsplf14.pdf?TSP-LF-14]  For TSP investment funds, visit: https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tsppc16.pdf?TSP-PC-16 [https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tsppc16.pdf?TSP-PC-16]  For TSP rollovers, visit: https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspfs05.pdf?TSP-FS-05 [https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspfs05.pdf?TSP-FS-05]  For TSP holdings of companies, visit: https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tsplf14.pdf?TSP-LF-14 [https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tsplf14.pdf?TSP-LF-14]  For TSP mutual fund window, visit: https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspfs28.pdf?TSP-FS-28 [https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspfs28.pdf?TSP-FS-28]  For TSP annuity, visit: https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspfs24.pdf?TSP-FS-24 [https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspfs24.pdf?TSP-FS-24]  For TSP required minimum distribution (RMD), visit: https://www.tsp.gov/taking-money-from-your-account/#req... [https://www.tsp.gov/taking-money-from-your-account/#required-minimum-distributions-rmds]

How to Get Military Records - with Scott Levins, Director of NPRC

In this episode of the SITREP, Mike and Paul sit down with Scott Levins, Director or National Personnel Records Center, and discuss everything from how to replace a copy of your DD-214 to how many military records were destroyed during the NPRC fire in 1973.  To learn more about ordering military records, visit National Personnel Records Center [https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center].  If you or a loved one served in the military and are looking for additional information about your benefits, be sure to visit "#theSITREP [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thesitrep]" on YouTube and begin connecting with the benefits your earned and deserve! Major questions asked during this podcast include, what is NPRC [National Personnel Records Center], what is the fastest way to get military records, how much does requesting records cost, is the process different for requesting different types of records, how to replace certificates, awards and medals, how to get a spouses DoD medical records, how to get records for a deceased Veteran, who's records were lost during the NPRC fire in 1973, how to get classified records; Special Operations Veterans, what is the fastest way to replace a DD-214, do Veterans need to request records for a VA Disability Claim, how has COVID changed operations at NPRC, are a Veteran's records public, how do I get my military records [analog or digital]?

Mesothelioma - with Dr. Hassan Khalil

Dr. Hassan Khalil from the Boston VA here to talk about what exactly is mesothelioma and what can they do for veterans who may have that disease.

Palliative care - with Dr. Andrea Ruskin, Director of Palliative Care

In today's episode Dr. Andrea Ruskin explains for us when does a veteran need palliative care or when is palliative care indicated? How would one know that they’re going to need palliative care?